National Career Academy Coalition

What National Career Academy Coalition does

National Career Academy Coalition (NCAC) is a U.S. nonprofit organization founded in 1996 and incorporated in March 1997, headquartered in Nashville, Tennessee. It is the national coalition supporting the career academy model in K-12 education, convening schools, districts, and state education organizations around the National Standards of Practice (NSOP), a 10-standard framework NCAC led the development of in 2004 with ACTE, NAF, CCASN, SREB, and other partners. NCAC operates a registry of 301 Model Academies across 11+ states and territories and serves a market of 7,000+ U.S. high schools reaching over 1 million students.

NCAC's core intellectual property is the NSOP framework and its supporting rubrics (high school, freshman academy, middle school, elementary pre-academy, small school). Its service portfolio is structured around five core offerings: Academy Reviews and Re-Certifications (package pricing of $4,000 for a single review, $10,000 for three reviews, $15,000 for five reviews, and $2,600 for Model re-certification), Professional Learning (courses on Academy Action Planning, Mission/Vision Development, Program of Study, Project-Based Learning), Leadership Development (the CALC fellowship at $4,000-$4,599 per participant and the two-year Fellows Innovation Network at $4,600), Master Teacher Certification (portfolio-based), and on-site Insight Onsites at Model Academy sites ($250-$350 per participant). The curriculum line adds one-time licensing revenue ($500-$6,000 per school) for products including College and Career Seminar, High School 101, Student Ambassador Mini-Modules, the Capstone Manual, and the Business & Community Engagement Guide.

NCAC's go-to-market is sales-led and event-driven, anchored by an annual conference (2026 in Orlando, FL) and direct engagement with schools, districts, and state education departments. Membership and coalition services provide a recurring subscription layer for state and associate members, including Cambridge Assessment International Education. GTM is complemented by referral partnerships with Advance CTE, ACTE, and the Education Development Center (co-developer of CALC). NCAC is governed by an Executive Board and Operating Board composed of district superintendents, CTE chiefs, and partner organization representatives; the operating team is small (President, four Directors, Operations Manager, Review Coordinator).

Name

National Career Academy Coalition

Legal name

National Career Academy Coalition

Website

https://ncacinc.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1996

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

National Career Academy Coalition is a U.S. nonprofit coalition that develops the National Standards of Practice (NSOP) and provides certification reviews, leadership programs, professional learning, and curriculum products to career academies, schools, and districts.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Career Academy Education Services

NAICS

Professional and Management Development Training (611430), Educational Support Services (611710), Educational Services (611)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

National/Institutional Accreditors (Career, Faith-Based, Distance, etc.) (EDADACAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Professional Development / CPD Requirement Administration for Licensure (EDADAJAL), K–12/School & District Accreditation Bodies (EDADACAE), Continuing Education (CE/CPD) & Provider Accreditation Bodies (EDADACAF)

Keywords

• Career academy certification
• Professional development services
• Academy review services
• Leadership development programs
• Curriculum and training

Headquarters

HQ city

Nashville

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Academy Reviews and Certifications: Fee-based academy review services where NCAC certified reviewers examine academy documentation, conduct interviews, and provide scored assessments. Reviews are priced in packages from single reviews ($4,000) to Gold ($10,000 for 3 reviews) and Platinum ($15,000 for 5 reviews). Re-certification for Model academies is $2,600.
2. Leadership Development Programs: Year-long CALC fellowship programs charging $4,000-$4,599 per participant for comprehensive leadership training including workshops, materials, and conference attendance. The Fellows Innovation Network offers a two-year program at $4,600 tuition.
3. Insight Onsites and Customized Tours: On-site professional learning experiences at Model Academy sites. One-day events are $250 per participant, two-day events are $350. Customized group tours for teams of 10+ participants with personalized agendas.
4. Curriculum Products: Sale of curriculum materials including College and Career Seminar ($6,000/school), High School 101 ($3,000/school), Student Ambassador Modules ($2,000/school), Capstone Manual ($900+), Business & Community Engagement Guide ($500+), and Common Planning Guide ($500).
5. Master Teacher Certification: Portfolio-based professional development certification program for career academy teachers with three+ years of experience. Teachers apply by January 31 annually with portfolio submission deadline of June 30.
6. Membership and Coalition Services: State members and associate members access world-class professional development, action and strategic planning guides, career academy research and data, and the NCAC network.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

NCAC provides academy reviews and certification against the National Standards of Practice (NSOP), professional learning programs, leadership development (including the Career Academy Leaders' Collaborative fellowship), Master Teacher Certification, customized school tours at Model Academy sites, and curriculum products for schools. Services are sold directly to schools, districts, and educational organizations, with pricing based on review packages, program tuition, and per-school curriculum licensing.

Product overview

National Career Academy Coalition (NCAC) offers a comprehensive portfolio of services and products for career academies. The core offerings include Academy Reviews (certification against National Standards of Practice), Professional Learning programs, Leadership Development (including the CALC fellowship), and Master Teacher Certification. NCAC also provides curriculum products including the College and Career Seminar, High School 101, and Student Ambassador Training Mini-Modules. Supporting resources include the Capstone Manual, Business & Community Engagement Guide, Common Planning Guide, and Design Continuum. These offerings work together to help schools design, implement, and sustain career academies aligned to the NSOP framework.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• NCAC Model Academies: Recognition program for career academies that meet National Standards of Practice
• Career Academy Leaders' Collaborative (CALC)
• The Fellows Innovation Network
• College and Career Seminar
• High School 101
• Student Ambassador Training

Products and services

• Academy Reviews Fee-based evaluation of career academies against the NSOP framework, with certified reviewers examining documentation, surveys, and interviews to deliver scored assessments and recommendations. Priced in packages from $4,000 single reviews to Gold ($10,000 for 3 reviews) and Platinum ($15,000 for 5 reviews). Re-certification for Model academies is $2,600.
• Insight Onsites and Customized School Tours On-site professional learning experiences at Model Academy sites, with one-day events at $250 per participant and two-day events at $350 per participant. Customized group tours with personalized agendas are offered for teams of 10+.
• Leadership Development Programs (CALC and Fellows Innovation Network) Year-long CALC fellowship programs ($4,000-$4,599) including three in-person workshops and ongoing virtual support, and the two-year Fellows Innovation Network ($4,600 tuition). Designed to develop adaptive leadership, storytelling, and systems change management expertise for academy leaders.
• Master Teacher Certification Portfolio-based professional development certification for career academy teachers with three or more years of experience. Teachers apply by January 31 annually with portfolio submission deadline of June 30. Validates work through reflective portfolio assessment focused on Student Learning, Teacher Craft, and Continuous Improvement.
• Professional Learning Courses Professional learning courses aligned to the career academy model, including Academy Action Planning, Mission/Vision Development, Program of Study Development, Academy 101, and PBL training.
• College and Career Seminar Year-long foundational course for 9th grade students transitioning into high school, covering academic habits, career exploration, financial literacy, and professional skills. Priced at $6,000 per school.
• High School 101 Five-unit transition course for 8th graders transitioning to high school, equipping students with academic habits, personal responsibility skills, and future-focused mindsets. Priced at $3,000 per school.
• Student Ambassador Mini-Modules Leadership mini-modules for Student Ambassadors in grades 9-12, with 5 modules per grade level covering Active Listening, Problem Solving, Conflict Resolution, ChatGPT, Strategic Planning, and more. Priced at $2,000 per school.
• Student Ambassador Training Full-day leadership training for elementary, middle, and high school students to successfully represent their Academies. Modules include Role of Ambassador, Understanding Career Academies, Effective Communication, and Goal Setting.
• Capstone Manual Manual addressing National Standard of Practice 7 (Teaching and Learning), allowing districts to customize their approach to implementing the capstone experience for all academy students. Prices start at $900 per school.
• Business & Community Engagement Guide Guide covering Communication, Organization, Management, Relationship Building, and Measuring Impact for business and community partnerships. Prices start at $500 per school.
• Common Planning Guide Guide to structure Common Planning Time for Academy Teams, essential for program coordination, curricular integration, business involvement, and resolution of student challenges. A key criterion for NSOP 5. Priced at $500 per school.
• Academy Rubrics NSOP-based rubrics for evaluating career academies, freshman academies, middle schools, and elementary pre-academies, available by request.

Quantifiable outcome

• Model Academies achieve scores of 128-130 for Model with Distinction, demonstrating measurable quality standards.
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Education Development Center (EDC)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2017NCAC and EDC jointly design and deliver the Career Academy Leaders Collaborative (CALC) program. Both organizations share a joint mission of empowering students to succeed in college, careers, and future economic landscape. EDC hosts sessions 2-6 of the Fellows Innovation Network at their Waltham, MA location.
• Advance CTEcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerNCAC partners with Advance CTE to help build support for schools, academies, and CTE programs. Advance CTE is a national organization supporting CTE advancement in every state. NCAC directs members to Advance CTE's advocacy resources and tools.
• Association of Career and Technical Education (ACTE)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerNCAC partners with ACTE to provide advocacy resources for CTE and Career Academies. ACTE develops tools to assist with advocacy activities including outreach to policymakers at local, state, and federal levels.
• Cambridge Assessment International EducationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCambridge Assessment International Education is an Associate Member of NCAC. With global reach backed by Cambridge University, they develop state-of-the-art educational products and provide teaching and training supports for K-12.
• Association for Career and Technical Education (ACTE)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered with NCAC in 2004 to develop the National Standards of Practice for career academies. ACTE is listed as one of the organizations that supports the NSOP.
• College and Career Academy Support Network (CCASN)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCCASN at UC Berkeley partnered with NCAC and NAF to host press conference in 2004 launching the NSOP. Listed as organization supporting the NSOP.
• National Academy Foundation (NAF)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered with NCAC and CCASN to host NSOP launch press conference in Washington DC in 2004. Listed as organization supporting the NSOP.
• Southern Regional Education Board (SREB) / High Schools That WorkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as organization supporting the NSOP. SREB supports career academy implementation across southern states.
• Ford Next Generation LearningminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFord Motor Company Foundation initiative listed as supporting organization for NSOP. Ford NGL advances career academy and pathways transformation.
• ConnectEd: The California Center for College and CareerminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCalifornia-based organization listed as supporting the NSOP. ConnectEd works to connect college and career readiness.
• National Association of State Directors of Career Technical Education Consortium (NASDCTEc)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as supporting organization for NSOP. Works at national level on CTE policy and standards.
• The Center for Secondary School Redesign (CSSR)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as supporting organization for NSOP. CSSR focuses on secondary school transformation.
• Talent Development High Schools, Johns Hopkins UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as supporting organization for NSOP. Research-based approach to high school transformation.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• Jobs for the Future (JFF): JFF is a national nonprofit focused on career pathways, workforce development, and high school-to-college-to-career reform. It is an adjacent emerging player compared to NCAC's academy-only focus, with meaningful overlap on district-level career-pathway strategy and federal CTE funding advocacy.

Direct peers

• Big Picture Learning: Big Picture Learning runs a national network of schools redesigned around personalized, internship-based learning, with its own accreditation process. It is a direct peer to NCAC because it also certifies and supports whole-school redesign models that compete for the same district transformation dollars.
• National Academy Foundation (NAF): NAF operates a national network of career-themed academies with its own certification, curriculum and PD. It is the most direct peer to NCAC: both certify and support career academies, share federal advocacy channels (NAF was a co-developer of NSOP in 2004), and compete for the same district customers.
• Ford Next Generation Learning (Ford NGL): Ford NGL is a Ford Motor Company-funded initiative that helps districts transform high schools into career academies with rigorous industry-linked curricula. Listed as a supporting organization of NCAC's NSOP, it is a direct peer that often competes for the same large-district transformation mandates.
• Southern Regional Education Board (SREB) — High Schools That Work: SREB's High Schools That Work program provides school-reform PD and on-site services for career-pathway-style high schools across member states. It is a direct peer to NCAC because it serves overlapping CTE/career-academy customers, co-developed NSOP, and competes for state-level academy-support contracts.
• College and Career Academy Support Network (CCASN), UC Berkeley: CCASN at UC Berkeley is a research-based technical-assistance provider that helped develop NSOP in 2004 and supports academies through state and regional networks. It is a direct peer to NCAC because both deliver academy-design consulting, training, and quality assurance to similar school systems.
• ConnectEd: The California Center for College and Career: ConnectEd supports Linked Learning-style career academies with pathways design, teacher PD, and district technical assistance. It is a direct peer to NCAC because both operate in the same career-academy standards and certification space and partner on national CTE policy.

Broad incumbents

• Education Development Center (EDC): EDC is a large nonprofit that co-designs and delivers NCAC's CALC leadership program and works broadly in K-12 STEM, equity and pathways. It is a broad incumbent compared to NCAC's narrow career-academy focus, but it overlaps on the leadership-fellowship and school-redesign services NCAC sells.
• Association for Career and Technical Education (ACTE): ACTE is the national professional association for CTE educators and was a 2004 NSOP co-developer. It is a broader incumbent than NCAC: it provides advocacy, PD and credentials across all CTE fields, while NCAC is narrower but more domain-specific to career academies.
• Advance CTE: Advance CTE represents state CTE directors and shapes national CTE policy and standards. It is a broad incumbent that overlaps with NCAC on state-level advocacy and is a partner for CTE policy work; however, it does not certify individual academies the way NCAC does.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/217944458405868
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/national-career-academy-coalition

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about National Career Academy Coalition